Variety Texas

A big shout out and bigger THANK YOU to American Heritage Girls for giving our Putt Putt course a much needed facelift.

Did you know around 6000 kids and families visit Peaceable Kingdom by Variety each year?

American Heritage Girls, thank you for being part of our impact!

❤️

Fun Friday ❤️ Fun Friday ❤️Fun Friday

Join us for Putt Putt and a movie at Peaceable Kingdom (18+ with special needs).

This Friday, 7-10pm

REGISTER HERE: https://form.jotform.com/222434333943150

Did you know our good friends at host regular Special Needs Screenings?! These shows are FREE for children with special needs AND their siblings.

“Spiderman: No Way Home” is showing next Saturday September 10th at all Texas SMG locations at Noon. 🍿

Please share and help us spread the word to families who would benefit from the opportunity. 🎞

Without our corporate sponsors and friends like / , and - who support our mission through events like Texan of the Year - we would not be able to provide the level of excellence and support that Texas kids, and families living with special needs, deserve.

We commit to empower, inspire, and enrich the lives of Texas families with the greatest need and limited means. Please join us in thanking these partners for their generosity 🤩

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 5th. We invite all our friends and neighbors to join us at Peaceable Kingdom for a special brunch and anniversary celebration ✨We will be soliciting for sponsorships, auction items and fundraising for our mission… stay tuned for more info and/or DM us to get involved now and help spread the word!

Over the years, Variety has presented the Texan of the Year award to many industry leaders who display courage, integrity and perseverance, including Steve Zuehlke, Lee Roy Mitchell, Chuck Norris, Wayne Lewellen, Chuck Viane, Jeff Goldstein, Steve Holmes, Tom Stephenson, Frank Liberto, Richie Fay, Juli Mitchell and Mark Gaines. Walter Hebert (Cinemark - 2018) and Krista Schulte (CocaCola - 2019) were the most recent honorees.

Last week we had the pleasure of returning to to honor Don Harton, EVP of Design & Construction at Cinemark as the newest Texan of the Year. Don joins an illustrious roster of Texas heroes and Variety's closest friends.

This photo album has some truly stunning pics from last week's events. Please tag and share! (For high-res images or other requests, DM or email us at [email protected])

The 2022 Texan of the Year (TOY) event will mark ten incredible years of partnership between Variety of Texas and Cinéshow.

More than $300,000 was raised this year to benefit Variety’s mission to empower children who live with differences. Cinemark’s Don Harton was be honored as the 2022 Texan of the Year and Amy Wallquist was the recipient of the Impact Award.

Thanks to the Cowboy Auctioneers and our generous event sponsors: Cinemark, Moorefield Construction, Keurig / Dr Pepper, Anton Cabinetry, GDC-Tech, Paramount, TMS Construction, Twin Shores and United Artists.

Photos from Variety Texas's post

Our thanks to for donating a personal popcorn popper to raffle off at last week’s event. Apparently our winner was *reluctantly* wooed by the fun of playing co****le to enter the raffle at our booth - and ended up bringing home the big prize! Lesson learned? Always play the games! Our team from PK, Drew & Kat, bring the FUN!

It was a treat to bring Amy up to the stage and celebrate her at the 2022 Texan of the Year gala dinner with this year’s Impact Award. Thank you for all you do for PK, Texas, and the diabetes community. 👏🏼

• We were so honored this past week to get to attend the gala with - where our very own Amy Wallquist received this years Impact Award!! We are so thankful for all Amy and others through the years have done to make Camp Bluebonnet possible through the years. Their impact on children with diabetes is so appreciated. 💙

❤️ We are so very grateful to have the support from corporate partners like & their foundation every year. The lives of Texas kids, especially children living with differences or extra needs, are made better because these folks care. 👏🏼❤️👏🏼❤️

We are so very grateful to have the support from corporate partners like & their foundation every year. The lives of Texas kids, especially children living with differences or extra needs, are made better because these folks care. 👏🏼❤️👏🏼❤️

from Variety Texas, a charity that provides resources and experiences for children with special needs, recently held their 2022 Texan of the Year golf tournament and gala. Our very own Ryan Karstendiek and Taylor Marsalis played in the golf tournament and we were a sponsor of the gala. Variety is also a beneficiary of our upcoming VCC Cares Foundation Charity Golf Classic.

(L-R Taylor Marsalis, Ryan Karstendiek, Variety President & Executive Director Stacy Bruce, Dave & Dan Patrick)

Reminder: our first FUN FRIDAY of the school year is today: August 26 🫶🏾 Spread the word!

Fun Friday’s are for students, 18+, who live with special needs. These evenings are special social opportunities for young adults growing through a transitional period as they age out of the public school system.

Sign up now at: https://form.jotform.com/222355949770163

Our players are definitely enjoying the gorgeous morning and the gorgeous course!

Funds raised from this event benefit Variety of Texas and programs like Teachable Kingdom. Now, more than ever before, we are proud to empower Central Texas students through experiential learning at PK ❤️

Give a huge round of applause to Stacy and Don for such a successful 2022 Texan of the Year Gala & Golf event 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Texan of the Year are ready for the shotgun start in just a few minutes! ⛳️ it’s a gorgeous day to play!

Join us in thanking our generous 2022 Texan of the Year sponsors ❤️

Don Harton shares his favorite Bible verse during his acceptance: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” We are proud to recognize him as our Texan of the Year 🥂

Amy Wallquist: Impact Award Recipient, Stacy Bruce: Variety of Texas Executive Director, and Honoree Don Harton: our 2022 Texan of the Year ❤️

Stacy & Variety of Texas’s Board Chairman, Steve Zuehlke, take the stage to introduce our 2022 Texan of the Year: Don Harton ⭐️

Josh was a natural telling his story to the Texan of the Year audience and sharing how important camp at Peaceable Kingdom is to him and his friends who live with 👏🏼

(He’s been made an honorary cowboy for the auction! 🤠 Lets raise some money, Josh! Woot!!)

Today is the day we honor ’s Don Harton as our 2022 Texan of the Year ❤️

If you are unable to make it for dinner, please consider making a donation to support Don’s efforts: www.varietytexas.org/gala

(choose “additional donation and proceed with gift 🎁)

It’s week! This Wednesday we are privileged to honor two individuals who have made a huge difference in the lives of children: Don Harton, our 2022 Texan of the Year, and Amy Wallquist, this year’s Impact Award Recipient.

*Save these dates for FUN FRIDAY during the 2022-2023 school year*

Variety’s program facilitators at Peaceable Kingdom identified a need for increased attention on special education students as they transition out of the school setting and into more independent living. To respond to that need, we have developed Teachable Kingdom: Transitions, featuring events like “Fun Fridays.”

These monthly Fridays benefit high school students who live with special needs and focus on recreation, communication, and socialization.

Variety’s goal is to provide the same young adults who are transitioning out of school a no-cost, consistent, and safe environment to interact and connect with peers - at their own pace - outside of traditional educational setting.

Learn more at varietytexas.org/eep.

🤣😂🤣😂

It’s Back to School Season, Kids! We wish everyone a great school year and hope to see you on a Teachable Kingdom field trip soon. From our KIDS to you: make this your best year yet! 🙌🏼

It’s an honor to recognize Cinemark’s support of the 2022 Texan of the Year Gala & Golf event at Cinèshow. Will you be attending?

Register at www.varietytexas.org/gala today. (Golf space is especially limited! Don’t miss out!)

These are a few of my favorite pictures taken during the recent Family Camp at 📸 …though, you have to admit: the last six pics really tell a story, don’t they?! Y’all remember flip books?! We love her!!

If your family needs an accessible adventure that caters to the whole family, DM us to join the list. 👍🏼

Kristen is repping a PK Summer Camp t-shirt from 2017! FRIENDS: Show us your camp tees 😁 post to your story and tag us for a chance to win a little something special 😉

We’re at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel today to sample and select the menu for our upcoming Texan of the Year gala. (Christi, our venue coordinator, is zooming in from her covid-quarantine, bless her heart!) Chef and his team treated us so well… you can obviously see my “I love my job responsibilities today” face. It was a chore to eat *both* desserts but anything for Variety 😉😍 www.varietytexas.org/gala

Are you thinking of joining the Impact Team summer staff next year? Visit our website and sign up for the Variety of Texas newsletter to be sure you receive all our updates. 📧 OR email us directly at [email protected]

These are some incredible pics from Rise Up With RYLA 📸

We recruited an outstanding Impact Team at Peaceable Kingdom by Variety for Summer 2022 but we want to spotlight a few standouts, like: WILL PLEDGER 🙌🏼

Will even won an award from the camp for going above and beyond what was expected. He was singled out for his willingness to jump in, to help however he could, and to always make sure everyone’s needs were met no matter the time of day or temperature! ☀️

We salute your hard work and positive attitude. Thanks for making an Impact this summer at PK, Will!

The industry has been supporting for more than 85 years.

Cinemark’s philanthropic relationship with Variety of Texas has been sweetly described as a sturdy marriage between a nonprofit and for-profit company. (Awww ☺️) Cinemark is a corporate community that truly cares. And, as Executive Vice President of Design and Construction, Don Harton is emblematic of Cinemark’s passion to do good in their communities.

“Don recognizes the impact we make on real kids’ lives. He genuinely wants to serve the community and help make Peaceable Kingdom a better place for everyone.” Excitedly, Bruce continued, “ And then, Don does the work to makes things happen!”

⭐️ Over the years, Variety has presented the award to many industry leaders who display courage, integrity and perseverance, including Steve Zuehlke, Lee Roy Mitchell, Chuck Norris, Wayne Lewellen, Chuck Viane, Jeff Goldstein, Steve Holmes, Tom Stephenson, Frank Liberto, Richie Fay, Juli Mitchell and Mark Gaines. Walter Hebert (2018) and Krista Schulte (2019) were the most recent honorees, prior to COVID. ⭐️

We are proud to return to Cinéshow this year to honor Don Harton, EVP, Design and Construction at Cinemark as the Variety of Texas 2022 Texan of the Year.

Visit www.varietytexas.org/gala for more information, single sesta and sponsorship opportunities for the 2022 Texan of the Year. Contact [email protected] for a direct assist. 🍿

Introducing (in alpha order so no one gets jealous 😉) our new Pygmy Goats! Say hello to Athena, Butters, Gremlin, Hawk, Maybelline, and Mo.

These new friends are part of our Animal Kingdom. They help us to excite and inspire kids about farm life and sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry - to name just a few of the endless experiential lessons taught thru Teachable Kingdom. Visit the to read more about outdoor education at Peaceable Kingdom by Variety ❤️

It was touch and go for a while there when Silva arrived at PK a few weeks ago. This baby was malnourished and had to be bottle fed every few hours.

But, Kat and the whole team are patient and dedicated ❤️ Every day we worried and fussed over Silva and every day we were rewarded with improvements!

Today Silva is THRIVING and will help us inspire and educate students through our field trips 🐮

(Don’t forget: we’re freshening up Silva’s home in the Animal Kingdom this summer! Give today at the link in bio 💰Silva needs SHADE!! 😎)

link in comments 👇🏼

Have you gotten your Gold Heart pin featuring the yet?! We LOVED and are so happy to have them back in our Collection as the 2022 Feature! As always, special thanks to and 🙌🏼

Drop by a , or to grab your collectible asap 💛 a full list of participating theaters is available on our website 🍿

…and what a pleasure it was to have this camp at Peaceable Kingdom by Variety‼️

Watch this reel by varietytx_peaceablekingdom on Instagram

make friends wherever they go 😉

Watch this reel by varietytx_peaceablekingdom on Instagram Jumbo • Good Juju

Nearly 2,500 Central Texas students benefited from experiential education at PK last year through our Teachable Kingdom program.

This year, it is especially important to use our resources to help Texas kids catch up get back on track to meet academic benchmarks that have been waylaid due to the COVID-pause.

www.varietytexas.org/eep